London to be 'ULEV capital of Europe' as delivery plan launched

Wed 22 July 2015 View all news

London's Mayor Boris Johnson has unveiled plans aimed  at making London the Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) capital of Europe with the development of preferential access parking or charging in new area-based schemes for ULEVs at the centre of the scheme. The delivery plan sets out a direction for London to support the expected increase in the number of ultra-low emission vehicles over the next 10 years.

The new ULEV Delivery Plan sets out a range of activities accelerate the uptake of electric and ultra-low emission vehicles. It includes: 


  • A commitment to the ultra-low emission discount for the congestion charge and to improving it as emission standards improve, so only the cleanest vehicles are incentivised.

  • Exploring preferential access for ULEV vehicles when new infrastructure is opened.

  • Working with boroughs to develop preferential access, parking or charging in new area-based schemes, including through the £2m low emission neighbourhood programme to be funded by the Mayor’s Air Quality Fund

  • Launching a new Low Emission Commercial Vehicle (LECV) Programme by the end of the year to accelerate the development, supply and widen uptake of low emission commercial vehicles and refuelling infrastructure.

  • Undertaking trials of ‘geofencing’ (technology which forces vehicles to operate in a specific way in particular areas) to harness new technologies and target the potential air quality benefits.
  • Working with the car club industry to identify and put in place infrastructure to support the industry’s ambitions for at least 50% of their fleets to be ULEV by 2025.

  • Developing a new infrastructure procurement framework for charge points that provides best value for procurers in the GLA Group.

The scheme was announced as London Fire Brigade unveiled its own plans to replace a number of its support vehicles with hybrid electric cars by 2016 and a launch a vision for low emission fire engines. London’s Fire Commissioner, Ron Dobson, has agreed a £600k plan to replace 57 of the Brigade’s fleet vehicles with range extender and hybrid electric cars by 2016. He has also revealed the Brigade’s ambition to eventually use low emission fire engines in the capital, calling on industry to bring forward new technologies to meet the unique demands of operational emergency vehicles.

 

The ULEV Delivery Plan also sets out a £65 million programme of ‘Zero Emission Capable London’ taxi top-up grants as it aims to end funding for taxis older than 10 years. A consultation process on proposed changes to taxi and private hire licensing has been published in advance of the introduction of central London's ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) in 2020. Two primary proposals have been put forward: first from 1 January 2018, all new taxis and PHVs must be zero emission capable (ZEC) and second the existing 15 year age limit is to be retained whilst encouraging retirement of the oldest, most polluting vehicles through a voluntary decommissioning scheme.

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